Omar Alaoui

Dimitrios Tsouvelekakis

ABA News
Welcome to the Arab Bankers’ Association! We are an association of bankers and finance professionals who work in Arab financial markets. Most of our members, both corporate and individual, are based in the U.K. but a significant proportion are based outside. Nearly all of us have spent much of our professional lives living and working in the Arab world. Our aims are simple: to foster improved relations, information sharing and understanding between the private and public sectors in the Arab world and the U.K. We achieve this through our programme of evening seminars and social events, through tailored events for individual members and their clients, and through personal interaction and introductions that are based on decades of business experience. You will find more information a...

ABA News
The Annual Gala Dinner of the Arab Bankers Association confirmed its place as the leading social event for London’s Arab Banking Community on 24 October.
Two hundred and twenty ABA members and guests attended the event, which was held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge.
ABA Chief Executive George Kanaan and Chairman, Hani Kablawy presented the Association’s award for Distinguished Service to Dr. Naaman Azhari, the Chairman of Blom Group. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Azhari outlined the ten principles of banking which have guided him during his long career and which have contributed to the success and profitability of Blom Bank. Guests also heard from Mr. Saad Azhari, the current Chairman and General Manager of Blom Bank.
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ABA News
A new-look Arab Banker was re-launched on 16 September.
The new edition has 84 pages in full colour and contains articles on Middle East banks, interviews with leading Arab bankers, and features on topics such as rating agencies, money laundering and global custody.
Of particular note are a profile of Lebanon’s Blom Bank and its former Chairman, Dr. Naaman Azhari, a celebration of Kuwait Investment Office’s 60th Anniversary in London, and interviews with Dr. Mohammed Baasiri, Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon and Dr. Jamil al-Jaroudi, C.E.O. of Bank ...

ABA News
An extra-ordinary group of speakers led the ABA’s latest evening seminar, held on 10 October.
Entitled, “Geopolitical Implications of the Emergence of Non-Conventional Oil and Gas, and the Changing Energy Scene in the Middle East”, the Seminar was opened by Mr. Adnan al-Janabi the Chairman of the Iraqi parliament’s Oil and Energy Committee. Mr. Janabi was followed by Dr. Fadhil Chalabi, the former Acting Secretary General of OPEC, and Dr. Luay El Khateeb, the Executive Director of the Iraq Energy Institute. They were followed by Dr. Carole Nakhle, the renown...

ABA News
Thirty members of the Arab Bankers Association attended the Association’s Annual General Meeting at 6pm on 9 September. Nineteen proxy forms were received from members unable to attend in person.
The meeting was held at the Association’s offices in Upper Grosvenor Street.
Hani Kablawi, the Association’s Chairman, opened the meeting and gave a brief introduction before asking Duncan Steele-Bodger, the Treasurer, to present his financial report. Duncan said that the Association’s finances were stable and in a much stronger position than in recen...

ABA News
The forthcoming issue of the Arab Banker carries an interview with Dr. Jamil Al-Jaroudi, the Chief Executive Officer of Bank Nizwa, Oman’s first Islamic bank.
The Magazine will be mailed to ABA members in mid-September. Key points addressed in the interview include the long-term business strategy of Bank Nizwa, including its plans to open new branches and plans to develop overseas business. Dr. Al-Jaroudi also addresses the role played by the Central Bank of Oman and the perspective of Shari’a scholars in Oman.
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ABA News
Analysis of events in Syria focuses – correctly – on the appalling humanitarian tragedy and the fears for the long-term future of an Arab country with a long and distinguished history.
Not surprisingly, there has been little focus on what the crisis in Syria means for its financial system and its banks. Yet, the state of the financial system does have a bearing on daily life in a war torn country, and it will have a crucial role to play in reconstructing the country when the fighting end.
The Arab Bankers’ Association’s Editor in Chief, recently wro...